As I have mentioned before, the Center for the American Experiment does great policy work. As readers know, I tend to follow population trends closely. John Phelan from the Center does the same and recently wrote about the same release of census data that I referred to in an earlier post. John does an outstanding job of setting out the true trends in Minnesota, which show the state continuing to bleed residents to other states, to some extent offset by foreign immigration, usually of the illegal kind, since Minnesota welcomes those to the state. Minnesota lost a net 48,000 people to domestic migration since 2019, and has a population rate of migration change that is the 34th worst in the country; worse than all of our neighboring states.
For domestic migration, we get people from Illinois, Virginia and Nebraska. We lose far more people, to North Dakota, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Wisconsin and South Dakota. People are seeking lower taxes, safer places and ones with a more rational government. They aren’t going to get that in Minnesota right now, although I sense we are on a cusp of change, with a possibility that Republicans capture full control of the legislature and perhaps even the Governor’s office.
As John points out, it isn’t just older people fleeing the cold who are leaving, it is a lot of working families. Contrary to the Incompentent Blowhard’s assertions, Minnesota is a terrible place to raise a family–awful schools that specialize only in political indoctrination; extremely high taxes of every kind, very expensive housing, health care and food, low and deteriorating public safety, and declining infrastructure. Taxpayers are leaving, replaced by those looking to leach off the remaining taxpayers. Not a good recipe for success.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue has even more detailed data on the amount of tax revenue leaving the state, but refuses to release it because it would just undermine Fat Timmy’s lies about how Minnesota is doing. (JP Article)
This summary is exactly why my wife and I quit Minnesota last fall. Moved to the Free Republic of Texas. Warmer temperatures and warmer people. When you come to Texas to visit. Kevin, let me know. I have a favorite Mexican restaurant I’ll treat you to for lunch. My way of saying thanks for all you do. Appreciate your insights and desire to spread truth.
Any relation to the great Lowell Blanchard from Tennessee? Curious as I am. My great uncle.
We are moving too. I won’t stay in this state if it continues its blue crazy spending and anti women and girls trends. Going south.
Had a talk with my 21 year old son last week. He’s home with us for the summer while he gets ready for his senior year at an engineering school (it’s in another, much more red, state). He mentioned that of his high school friend group, exactly one was still living full time in Minnesota. And that will only be as long as it takes to finish a graduate program he’s attending at a Minnesota college.
About a dozen bright, educated and motivated young men in total. Pretty much all of them are already gone. I know, anecdotal stories aren’t data. But I can’t miss the obvious fact none of them think this is a good state to create a life in anymore.
I want to retire in in about 40 months. I can retire in about 15 months. I have a feeling that once I’m KMA at work my wife and I will be taking a hard look at where to go and my work career will only last as long as it takes to fully fund our move away.